James kendall delano



amm Jnsl Delano,

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JAMES KENDALL BELANG, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ENGINE-STA RTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

y ratentedyiray '.9', 1922.

To all whom 1' t may concern.'

' Be it known that l, Jamas K. DELANO, a citizenof the United States11'esidirig at New York, in the county ofNew York and State of New .Yorln Vhave 4invented certain new and Vuseful Improvements in Engine- Starting Apparatus; and I dohereby de clare the following to be a` full, clear, and exact description ott-he invention', such' as will enable others skilled in'the art to which it appertains to make and' use the same.

This invention relates to engine starting apparatus and hasjparticular reference to apparatus for starting or cranking'engines of large capacity, such asthos'e employed for driving airplanes and trucks; Numerous features of the invention are not limited such engines,'however.

:Usually an! airplane engine is started by turning` the propeller byhand.' It is del sirable to employ power-'operable starting mechanism .in order toobtain a more reliable starting'actioil and also' to dispense with the labor required to start .the engine manually.A ItA is highlyfdesirable that provision be also made whereby airplane may manually that the engine may be started by shouldthe power Starting device fail to operate To economize weight and obtain other'advantages, the startingV effort should be transmitted to the engine-through gearingthat is common toV bot'hstarting devices. In a copending application, Serial No. 248.204, filed August 3, 1918, I have disclosed andclaim'ed an engine starting apparatus broadly embodyingr the foregoing:A principles. i

It is an object`of the present invention to provide an 'engine starting?r apparatus cmbodying the same broad principles as the one .shown in my application already liled, but involvinga different arrangement of elements- Another object of this'ini'ention is to combine a particularl'iv desirable type of hand crankingmechanismwith a'starting motor in such manner that a slidable part common to bothgcranking' devices may be actuated by either device to clutch the starting mechanism to the engine` whereb)7 the motor and hand crank may be alternatively7 employed for starting the engine.

Another object of the invention is to prostart' the engine, so

the occupant of .the

hand,H4

vide a starting'A mechanism in which a power transmission mechanism embodying speed reduction gearingr may be 'operativelycon-'- nected to an engine by a novel-means th`at`A also operates `to close Athe circuit of the'elecl tric starting motor that is'operativelvco'ni'f nected to the power transmission riiech'aff- 4 j n im r. f

nism.

vAnother object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby the starting mechl anism may be connected to the engine automatically whenstarting. power is applied to start the engine; and automatically disconnected 'from the engine shaft 'when the engine picks up and operates under its own power.

The above and other objects andA n'ovell features of the invention' will' be apparenti from the fllowingdesciiptiontaken in'con-j4 nect1on;with the drawing ii'ifwhiehfm 'V1' Figure 1 is a view partlyllinsection. and1 pa'rtbT in elevation illustratin'g ah Iengine starting apparatus embodying invetiorn'*H to is indicated at 10 andisprovi'dedivith suitable 'clutch teeth 11, adapted 'to be 'enpaged by theclutch teeth1`2Qn-'the clutch member 13 that is rotatably end slidably vsupported in a bearing14 in'one walli15'of the'gear case C.' -The other iva'll 16 o f the gear case is lihaving openings to receiveblts whereby suitable position.

'The inner'end of the clutch member 13 carries a'gear 19 which maybe formed 'lntegral with the member '13 or secured thereto in some suitable manner. The gear 19 meshes with a pinion 20 which has elongated hub portions whereby it is mounted in bearings 21 and 22 in the walls l5 and 16, respectivelv. One hub of the pinion L20 carries a gear 23 that meshes with a pinion 24 carried by the starting shaft 25 that is slidablv and rotatably mounted inthe bearing 26 in the wall 16 and is rotatable in a bearing sleeve 2T in the clutch member 13.

The shaft 25 is hollow and extends outsecured to the dval'llby fbolts 1 17. the wall 15 being 'provided withfa' flange are loffsuticientjlengthto constantly mesh` sido the casing C, the Vouter `eend thereofz be-4 ing provided-with a notch 28 to receive'theb pin 29 on a hand starting crank K, the inner end of which is adapted toffitvinto the shaft 25.

The shaft 25 and the clutch member. 13 are in axial alignment, the former being' profV vided with a collar 30 thatis of larger di-4 ameter thantlie portih'f the shaft' 25 that rests in the bearing sleeve' 2. .-:Thecollar 3()` :engagethe teeth-112 and 1;'-1 'with' one another. A ringf32 secured to the hub of the gear ,19 is of smaller internal diameter than the extepf naldiameterl oit: the shoulder o' collar 30. The vring and -sleeve 27 engage 'opposite sides ofthclcollar 30and-con-nect the shaftA .25 to the clutch membel andV gear'19V so. that the saidclutchmemberaand gear will move longitudinally with-the'shaft251 but will not rotate therewith. Accordingly, van end-wise movement of the shaftI 25 'toward the left in the drawing will caus ad'isen` gagement--pf the clutch teeth 12 aiid'l-l,V since the clutchfmember 13 moves axial'lyfwiththe shaft 25. The lteeth of the pinions 20 and 24 with the ,teeth ofy the'gears 19 and 23',v respectively, in any position ot the shaft 25 andclutch member 13.

In order tofstart the engine manually the crank K is connected to the end of the shaft 25,-as'sho'wn and by pushing inwardly' the shaft 25'and the clutch member 13are moved toward "the right into position to engage the teeth 12 with the teeth 11 atth'e end o'f'th'e' engine member 10. Power willbc transmitted at a reduced Speed from the crank through the gear train 24,- 23, 20 and 15)` to the engine. After the engine has been started and the crank has been released, the shaft 25 and the elements connected to it will be returned to their normal position, in a manner to be described. V

The wall 1G of the crank rase carries a hollow bracket B which has :i cylindrical part4 34 forming a housing to receive the end of :in electric motor M, and a hollow flaring part 35 which may be secured to the walll in a suitable manner. VThe end of the motor armature shaftl'rn the housingr part 35 carries :i pinion that meshes with a gear 37 having ahnb 38 whereby the'gear is mounted on the shaft 25. The hub 38 :1nd gear `are securedA against Y rotative and longitudinal movement with respect to the shaft 25 by a key 39 and a Aset screw 40,- respectively. The

hiib 38V is also provided with a groove 41 to receive the forked lower end 42 of a shitting lever 43 that is'pivoted 'at lvl on the housing B. The upper end of the shifting lever 43 has anopening to receive the ctiuatigfrod .45, one end of which may be connected by l suitable means to a point `accessible to the opcrater. The rod 45' passes through a switch c.\ si11g.4 0and carries a switch member 47 that is arranged to close a switch S controlling thcircuit of the motor M. The rod v45 carries a collar 48 and between the latter and 1 the upper end of theishifting lever 43 there `the latter. he'springl "alsoY restores the rod 45 and the' switch-member 47 to normal position when the rod1 45: is released; thereby breaking theinotor circuit. A spring 50 that surrounds the pivot 44 of thel'ever 43;' aridv has one end secured to suid'llevor; serves tot return the gear 37 and siiaft25 totheir 'nbrmal positions'automticallywherr thefoperat ing rod 45 visireleased. When the engine is: cranked by hand, the `operator of Y course-l pnshesninwardly `on the crakyso that the gear' 37, with the lever 43 connected to: it, will slide axially a short distahcetocause .engagement of clutch teeth 11,L 12,y as before.

Thus thefspring 50 also automati'c'allyjref stores the parte to their norinalpositiondxf.` terthe4 engine is cranked by hand. f n i It will be understood that a, spring or4 other cushioning means (not shown) may be' interposed at a suitable' oit in the gear train between the crank for driving motor M and the engine crankshaft to cushion ithe. initialturning force applied by the starter.v .In Fig. 2. l have disclosed means Wherev by'thecliitch jaws of the starting'pparatus may be automatically engaged and disengaged during the starting operation, so that the lever 43, collar' 41, and otherassociated parts, shown in Fig. 1, maybe eliminated it desired. The shaft 131, which corro-v sponds to the sha l't 13 of Fig'. 1, is rotatably and slidably mounted in a bearing 141 in the housing member 181, corresponding."esper tively to the bearing 14 and housing 18 'of Fig. 1. 1 The shaft 131 has a coarse exterior thread 132 at 'a slight distance inwardly from the outer end thereof that carries the clutch teeth 12 which ae adapted to interlock with corresponding Clutch teeth 11 on shown in Fig. 2; The housing member 181 has a hub portion 182'that is provided with a recess or opening 183 which extendslradially through the hub 182 and communicates with the bearing 'opening141- A plunger or detent 55 fits in the openingfl and basa tapering inner end that fits in the thread groove 132. cAspring 56iin1itlie'recess'183 yielding-ly y presses'zthe Ldetent 55: into en-' gagement with thethreaded-portion' of therv shaft 131, the saidsprinr `oeinglheld =in": place by a threaded capI 5 thatclosesv theli outer end of the recess 183.1-f1t .willbe-'un--v derstood that the structure' disclosedincFig.

ri 2 may be applied tojawstarting:apparatus:

such as the one shown-in Fig.i1,' but since such structure isintended to Aeffect theia'uto matic engagement andp'ermit-the automatic disengagement-.of theiclutch teeth'11'andf12 the lever 43, pivot 44, Collar 41, and spring 50, may be omitted. "Inisuch-fani'ariange# ment the lgear 37 is ofcourse 'ast'o'n the shaft 26 .and the innerlendf'ofjtlfe'springg'f is arranged to bear ,against'zthe'Lendwall of"- the case of the-switch.Siorsmeothersuitl'" able abutment'y to automatically 'lope'ne'the-`r switch S when the operatonreleases "the" rod 45. i The shaft 26, when"rotated byi'hand'or power, causes the rotation ofx the shaft131," and the tracking of the dete'nt 55 in\the threadfgroove 132,.causes the'fshaft -1131=to movelongitudinally as it isirotatedfanduntil the teeth 12ithereofengage"the-teeth11v on the engine'crankijshaft-11),,whereupon further longitudinal rrioveirientceasesy and the engine shaft 10 is'rotated bythe shaft 131 to crank the' engine.A During the'erankj ing operation the spring pressed detent' is alternately, forced intorits recess by the advancing thread' and then'dropped back into the thread groove, as the shaft 131 turns. When the engine Operates under its own power and drives the shaft 10 faster than the shaft 131. the teeth 11 will ride upwardly on the teeth 12 and exert a powerful camming thrust on the shaft 131 in the r'everse direction. The shaft 131, however, may still be rotating in the direction for starting, but the thrust exerted by the teeth 11 will be sufficient to force the spring pressed detent 55 hack into the recess 183, allowing the shaft 131 to slide axially in the reverse direction regardless of whether it is f rotating or stationary, the detent 55 merely ratcheting on the threads of the shaft 131.

'hat l claim is:

1. Engine starting apparatus comprising a shiftable shaft adapted for manual operation to start the engine, in combination with power operable means adapted to operate said shaft to start the engine, said shaft being alternatively operable manually or by said power means, and speed-changing mechanism for transmitting power from power operablemeans adapted and arranged' to rotate said shaft to start the engine and speed-'reduction'mechanismJ for transmitting power' from said shaft to the `engine' at a reducedlspeed, said shaft and vspeed-reduction mechanism being 4alternatively rotatable manually or by said power operable means to startthe engine Y 3.,Engine, starting apparatus comprising a rotatable and vshiftable shaft arranged for operative connection to an'engine, 1n com' binationwith power operable starting means fordrivin'g' said shaft, manually operable means forcontrollingsaid power means and foreflectiii'g operative connection of said shaft and thefengine, said 'shaft having provisionwh'erebyitisfadapted to be rotated manuallyf'to `startithe engine, yand speedcli'anging'mecha'nism for transmitting `power from said shaft to the engine at a different speed from that applied 'to said shaft Amanually'or by such power means.

45 Engine Starting apparatus comprising a [rotatable and 'slidable shaft and speedV changing gearing"a1-'ranged` for operative connection to an engine, in combinationwith power operable means for driving said shaft and gearing tostart the engine, said' shaft having provision vwhereby the shaft and gearing may be manuallydrivento transmit power through'said shaft4 and-gearing to start the^engine,ksaid `shaft being alternatively operable manually or by said power means." i A 1 5. The combination with power operable means, of a driven member, a shiftable driving member alternatively operable manually or by such power means, and speed-changing mechanism for operatively connecting such driving member and driven member.

6. Engine starting apparatus comprisingT the combination with power operable starting means, of a driven member adapted for operative connection to an engine, a shiftable driving member alternatively operable manually or by such power means, and speed-reduction mechanism for operatively connecting such driving member and driven member.

7. Engine starting apparatus comprising rotatable and shiftable shafts, one of which is arranged for operative connection to an engine, in combination with an electric starting motor operatively connected to the other of said shafts to drive the same, means including gearing for operatively connecting said shafts, and means for shifting said shafts and for closing the motor circuit, said shafts beinghalso adapted and' arranged to be manually operated to connect the' same to the engine to start the latter.-

8. Engine starting apparatus comprising the combinationwith an electric starting motor, of a shiftable clutch -member arranged for operative coiinectiontoan engine,

a shiftable driving member alternatively operative manually or by said electric starting motor, means including gearing -.for operatively connecting such driving member and clutch member,l and lmeans for shifting said drivin member and for closing thecircuit of sai motor. h

S). Engine starting apparatus comprising the combination with power transmission mechanism. including 'an axially. movable clutch member, an axially movable starting and driving shaft, aiidmeans comprisinga speed-reduction gearing operatively ,connecting said-shaft andclutch member, of. an-electric starting motor operatively connected to said shaft,. saictshaftrbeing,provided with' means wherebygthe Same may'- be manually operated and means operable. to connect theA clutchl member ,to an engine' and toclose the circuitfef said motor. y ff Y l. 10. Engine? starting apparatus comprising :in axially movable starting shaft having-` provision Awhereby the sameymaybemanually operated,a power operable starting dei vice arranged for operating sald-,shafaiiidfy means, including speed changing l gearing,

associated withnsaid shaftfor transmitting power therefrom to an engine ff- 11. Engine starting .apparatus comprising in combinatioma rotatable shiftableshaft,

having provision whereby the 'saine may be rotated manually to start an engine,1 means, including speed dreduction mechanism, for operatively connecting said shaft to the engine, poweiI operable niczins arranged lo drive said shaftfto start the engine, means for controlling said power operable means, and means for returning said controlling means andl shaft to normal position after the engine has been started.

l2. Engine starting apparatus comprising the combination with coaxial shafts that are manually shiftable to operatively connect the same to an engine and manually rotatable to start the engine, of speed-changing mechanism operatively interposed between such shafts, an electric starting motor, means whereby said electric motor is operatively conneeted to one of said shafts to rotate it to start the engine, means for shifting said shaft and closing the circuit of said motor, and means whereby such shafts are automatically returned to their normal position after the engine has been started either manually or by said motor.

13. The combination of tivo coaxially arraneed slidable and rotatable shafts, one of sai shafts being arranged for alternative rotation manually or by power means, and speed-changi fr mechanism for mechanically connecting sanishafts.

14. The Combination with two telescopically arranged slidable and relatively rotatable shafts, the first of said shafts having provision whereby the same may alternatively bey rotated manually or by power means, and speed reduction, torque multiplying mechanism interposed between said shafts and mechanically connecting them, whereby such -irst Shaft is adapted to drive the otliei' shaft at a reduced speed.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature. f L

JAMES KENDALL DELANo. 

